Peter Houston opens talks with Hearts over managerial vacancy

By Telegraph Sport

5:50PM GMT 09 Mar 2013

The former Dundee United manager is among several candidates looking to replace John McGlynn, who lost his job late last month after four consecutive defeats.

Houston told BBC Scotland: “I’ve spoken to Hearts and there will be further talks in the next 48 hours. But there are other people in the frame. It’s not just me. A lot of people are jumping the gun.”

Caretaker manager Gary Locke led Hearts to a 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Tuesday and is set to continue for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League derby against Hibernian on Sunday.

But the progress in the recruitment process raises the prospect of them appointing a new manager before the Scottish Communities League Cup final against St Mirren next Sunday.

Houston said he had spoken briefly to managing director David Southern and director of football John Murray.

“I had questions to ask and they were very honest – and we’ll speak again,” he said.

Hearts fended off a winding-up order before Christmas after fans bought shares to allow the club to settle a tax bill and the collapse of Vladimir Romanov’s personal finances has sparked fears over the club’s future.

But Houston, who left Dundee United in January, was reassured by his initial discussions.

The former Hearts coach said: “The club is going back to reality in many ways and will need to work under a structured budget.

“I was sceptical regards the situation but I was very pleased by what I heard.

“They are confident they can be self-sufficient but the next 18 months will still be very hard.

“Hearts are a fantastic club, they are a big club and a club that Scottish football needs.”

St Mirren, meanwhile, have expressed “bitter disappointment” over the Scottish Football League’s decision to hand an extra 3,500 cup final tickets to Hearts which they say were earmarked for their fans.

St Mirren say they were promised the West Stand tickets – priced £20 and £10 – once they had sold out their initial 14,000 allocation for the Hampden clash.

Instead they have been given an additional 1,200 tickets for the South Stand which cost £30 with no concessions, with the option for a further 900.

The Paisley club released a statement saying the decision was especially disappointing “when we understand that Hearts have not yet sold their full allocation of 25,000 tickets”.

St Mirren had to settle for a share of the spoils with Dundee United after a goalless draw in Paisley, in which John Rankin was sent off for the visitors two minutes from time.

Kevin Thomson has completed his return to Hibernian in a short-term deal that will see him play for free.

Hibs confirmed the signing of the midfielder, who left Middlesbrough by mutual consent in January following an injury-hit spell on Teesside.

The 28-year-old, who left Easter Road for Rangers in a £2 million deal in January 2007, has been training with his boyhood club for several weeks and has made himself available to play despite the club being unable to afford any wages.

Thomson said: "I'm pleased to be back at Hibs - I want to help the team to achieve as much success as possible between now and the end of May.

"I always gave my all for the shirt and I'm looking to produce committed performances that will help the team challenge for a top-six place and for the Scottish Cup.

"With finances so tight at the moment, I've decided to put the club first and play for free. I'm looking forward to being back playing for Hibs again."

Goals from Ally Love and David Hopkirk gave Annan a stunning victory at Ibrox as Rangers, with the words of their chief executive and the boos of their fans ringing in their ears, suffered a first home league defeat of the season.

After Charles Green’s midweek statement that the current team is the worst in the club’s history, the home players had a perfect opportunity to respond.

However, Rangers were well below par and Andy Little’s goal proved a mere consolation for the Third Division leaders.

Also in SFL3, Stirling thrashed East Stirling 9-1.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk